Thill-coupling



(No Model.) L. P. TAYLOR & W.- P. CLARK.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented Oct. 31, 1882.

UNITE LEYVIS F. TAYLOR AND \VILLIAM I CLARK, OF ORLAND, INDIANA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,657, dated October31, 1882.

Application filed August 30, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LEWIS F. TAYLOR andWILLIAM F. CLARK, ofOrland, in the county of Steuben and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThill-Oouplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an iinprovementin thill-coupling, the object ofthe same being to provide a device that will combine simplicity andeconomy in construction with durability and efficiency in use; and withthese ends in view our invention consists in certain details inconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of ourimprovement, showing the same secured to a vehicle-axle. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same,and Fig. 3 is a detached view of thespring-holder.

A represents the fore axle, and B the clip, provided with thescrew-threaded ends a, on which the curved spring-metal holder 0 isfastened. This holder is curved substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and isprovided with the straight portion I) thereof, which rests up againstthe under side of the axle A, and is secured in position on the threadedends a. by nuts 0. This straight portion b of the holder 0, besidesproviding means for the attachment of the holder to the clip, alsoserves as a bottom plate to the clip and effectually holds it inposition. The holder 0, after leaving the axle A, curves downward andforward under the same, and then upward in front of the clip, where itis provided with two side ears, (1, and a forwardly-projecting tinger,c, the functions of which will be hereinafter described. The clip B isprovided in front with the two side arms,f, each having an opening forthe passage of the bolt E, and separated sufficiently for the receptionof the thill-iron F, which latter is of ordinary construction.

E is a plain bolt without head or screwthreads, and of length suflicientto extend from the outside of one arm f through the head of (No model.)

the thill-irou F to the outside of the other arm fwithout any lateralplay.

As before stated, the holder 0 is curved upward in front of the clip andis provided with side ears, (I. These side ears, (I, can be of anydesired shape, and are adapted to occupy positions on the opposite sidesof the armsfin line with the bolt-openings therein, while the finger 0rests immediately under the thill-iron F. That portion of the holder 0immediately below the head of the thill-iron F and between the ears d isconvexed or raised up, as shown at g, so as to constantly bear upwardagainst the head of the thill-iron and prevent the parts from rattling.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the shafts from the thills it is simplynecessary to grasp the finger e of the holder 0 and depress the same. Bydepressing the outer or free end of the spring-holder the ears (I arealso lowered, which uncovers the openings in the arms f and allows thebolt to be removed. As soon as the bolts are removed the shafts are freeto be withdrawn from the clips. When it is desired to replace the shaftsthe free end of the holder 0 is again depressed, the bolt placed inposition, and the spring-holder is allowed to resume its normalposition. By this means the bolts are securely held in position withoutthe use of nuts, and the parts prevented from rattling withouttlieinterposition of rubber or other packing between the clip and headof the thill-iron.

instead of providing the holder 0 with two ears, (I, and the bolt E withno head,.as previously described, the holder can, if desired, beprovided with only one ear and the bolt with a head and answer all thenecessary purposes. When this latter construction is employed the onecar would rest up against and on the outside of the bolt-head andprevent the bolt from being accidentally displaced.

'Our improvement is simple in construction, is durable and eflicient inuse, and can be applied to any vehicle on which the ordinarythill-conpling is employed without changing the construction of the clipor thill-iron.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction of thespring-holder mightbe resorted to without departing from the spirit ofour invention; and hence we would have it understood that we do notlimit ourselves to the exact construction shown and described, butconsider ourselves at liberty to make such changes as some within thespirit and scope of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Lettcrs Patent, is

1. The combination, with the clip, thill-iron, and bolt, of the spring-holder having astraight portion, by means of which it is secured tothe clip, side ear or ears for holding the bolt in position, and afinger, all of the above parts adapted to operate as described.

2. The combination, with the clip,thill-iron, and headless bolt, of thespring-metal holder,

curved as shown, and provided with two side ears and a finger, all ofthe above parts constructed and adapted to-operate as described.

- 3.. The combination, with the clip-bolt and

